For all of the scandal, romance and heartbreak headlines that Taylor Swift’s name has been wrapped up in this year, there’s one major story that has been relatively out of sight. It involves a lawsuit — and no, notthe one against Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
It started in June 2013, when Taylor was performing a sold-out show on her Red tour at Denver, Colorado’s Pepsi Center. Afterwards, at a meet and greet backstage, local country radio DJ David Mueller was posing for a photo with Taylor when he allegedly groped her behind. Later that night, Taylor’s security apparently approached the DJ and accused him of touching her inappropriately, and he was fired from the radio station two days later.
Two years later, in September 2015, Mueller filed a lawsuit against Taylor for lost wages. She countersued for assault and battery in October 2015. Mueller would later add slander charges to his lawsuit, while Taylor and her camp maintain that, despite Mueller’s claim that it was someone else who groped Taylor, the photo evidence of the incident was all they needed. (This was the same photo that was supplied to the radio station and led them to make their own decision in firing Mueller, Taylor’s team says.)
Fast forward to summer 2016. Right in the thick of all of the “Famous” drama, on July 26, Taylor gave her deposition in the case. Just this past week, the judge agreed to keep the aforementioned photo evidence sealed, lest it “be shared for scandalous and prurient interests” and potentially influence the jury. The deposition, however, was made public. And it is not pretty.
“Right as the moment came for us to pose for the photo, he took his hand and put it up my dress and grabbed onto my ass cheek and no matter how much I scooted over it was still there,” Taylor says in her videotaped statement, via Billboard. “It was completely intentional; I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
She goes on to detail the emotional toll the assault took on her. “I remember being frantic, distressed, feeling violated in a way I had never experienced before,” she said. “A meet-and-greet is supposed to be a situation where you’re thanking people for coming, you’re supposed to be welcoming people into your home, which is the arena for that day, and for someone to violate that hospitality in that way, I was completely stunned.” Yikes.
You might also remember when Taylor missed the VMAs for jury duty earlier this year. It turns out she was excused from the aggravated rape and kidnapping case due to her own pending sexual assault case.
Taylor has previously stated that she would donate any money she won in the lawsuit to charities who work to protect women from sexual assault. We wish her all the best as she continues these heavy legal proceedings.
Did it surprise you to learn the details of Taylor’s case? Tweet us your thoughts @BritandCo.
(Photos via Mark Davis, Larry Busacca, Andreas Rentz/Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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